First Quarter reflection on Seahawks with surprising new developments

By 5 video games the Seattle Seahawks are 2-3, however the actual shock has been how the staff stayed aggressive in each sport besides Week 2 towards the San Francisco 49ers.

A number of vital storylines haven’t developed anyplace close to preseason expectations, and already the definition of “success” this yr has modified.

Listed below are the three greatest outcomes for the Seahawks this season, now the goalposts have shifted barely via the primary quarter of the season.

Geno Smith wins Comeback Participant of the Yr

I don’t imply for the emphasis to be on the precise award, however on the consistency it could replicate. It’s uncommon to go from a real backup to a real starter, not to mention a weekly league-leader, not to mention on the quarterback place.

If the Rashaad Penny contract can function a good instance, a half-season of elite play following three seasons of disappointment didn’t generate elite hype across the league. To make certain it might be very totally different with Geno Smith, however NFL groups are bizarre in free company with confirmed commodities, far much less so with the unproven.

Smith is at an age the place it’s nonetheless prudent to draft a quarterback finally, however Seattle is all of the sudden within the unexpected fortuitous place of having the ability to draft for growth. Essentially the most frequent purpose Pete Carroll cited for Smith being forward of Drew Lock within the offseason competitors was that Geno knew the system. There isn’t a house higher for Smith subsequent season than Seattle, and he is aware of that. If there’s a approach that Smith exhibits that is who he actually is at quarterback, and the danger/reward ingredient falls good for the Hawks, then maintaining Smith for any variety of years is the very best consequence. They won’t solely have a stopgap, however a aggressive, confirmed staff man, with all the flexibleness on this planet to seek out the subsequent quarterback unhurried.

Draft Picks (or if you happen to’re going via hell, likelihood is you would give Seattle a top-10 choice)

I’d have thought it mental incoherence to even think about leaving a house NFL sport with time expiring and the sport tied.

After which I noticed the Denver Broncos.

Man this staff is so unhealthy. The type of unhealthy that prices wealthy folks an unhealthy quantity of sleep, will get a bunch of individuals fired finally, provokes actually bizarre responses from Pete Prisco, and several other circuits of Exhausting Knocks.

Denver has a dropping document, and hasn’t even performed the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs but. They’re looking at some horrible highway video games (Chargers, Ravens, Rams) and have the offensive cohesion of a Pac-12 staff. Excessive-end playoff hopes have become high-round draft choose chance.

On the flip facet, the Seattle protection is so unhealthy that it’s going to forestall what appears like a really unbelievable offense from taking off. That is annoying, infuriating and get-wrenching, however isn’t unhealthy. Subsequent yr is the yr. The Seahawks have clearly made strides ahead in a few areas over final season, and should find yourself drafting in a virtually an identical place subsequent yr. That is good.

The Fearsome 5 or Spectacular Six

Tariq Woolen, Abraham Lucas, Charles Cross, Boye Mafe, Kenneth Walker, Coby Bryant – in that order.

The fearsome 5 title is in there as a result of I used to be toying round with this earlier than the New Orleans Saints sport. Initially, Bryant wasn’t on the record. He’s nonetheless acquired an extended technique to go, however has now calmed down sufficient within the system to show a fairly spectacular knack for playmaking.

Right here’s the fact of this draft, one thing the Seahawks haven’t been capable of say beneath John Schneider since….possibly ever?

They’re beginning six rookies, and completely none of them are the explanation the staff has misplaced the three video games they’ve. One appears to be phenomenal, the 2 tackles are already plus starters, and the ultimate three are simply getting going.

We’ve crushed this to dying on Area Gulls, however the Seahawks have grown accustomed to limping from yr to yr, dragging on common two starting-caliber draft picks with them. They’re beginning 0 from final yr and the three “good” ones from 2020 have all been outplayed by Colby “wow he’s nonetheless on the staff” Parkinson.*
*Jordyn Brooks has not, however please be a tiny bit extra aggressive

It’s the proper yr and ideal depth chart for each single one in every of these guys to get most growth of their rookie years. Woolen, Lucas and Cross will get nearly each snap. Darrell Taylor has evaporated and Mafe will get significant time. Rashaad Penny and Tre Brown accidents imply actual expertise for Walker and Bryant. Couldn’t ask for a greater path to a beginning job for any of those guys. They’re taking part in for a staff that’s getting beat with out the Jacksonville Jaguars expertise of getting blown out each week.

The document this season is irrelevant, and whereas the protection makes us need to douse the TV in gasoline each week, a lot of this staff’s course of has far exceeded expectations.